Chapter 117: Humiliating the Scoundrel Father
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Lu Chao Chao was furious. She jumped up and slapped him, but only reached his knee due to her height. Frustrated by her own short stature, she began to cry even harder. Xuan Jichuan, flustered, kept apologizing, but Lu Chao Chao ignored him and let Yuqin carry her to the carriage. Climbing in, the little girl muttered, “Cuwwse him, cuwwse him…” while sniffling.
No one paid much attention, thinking it was just childish behavior. However, Madam Xu was too preoccupied to deal with the children’s scuffle. She had just finalized her divorce three days ago, and now someone was proposing marriage? General Song, who had been recently pardoned by the king and was favored at court, had sent a matchmaker to propose. Madam Xu was bewildered.
More surprises were in store for her. As soon as she got off the carriage, a royal gift arrived from the palace. Eunuch Wang, smiling kindly, said, “Madam Xu, spring has arrived and the weather is warming up. These are materials and some novelties from the palace. Please don’t disdain them.”
Most of the items were for children. Bewildered, Madam Xu thanked the king for his grace, staring at the room filled with treasures in a daze.
“Gifts from the Song family and the palace?” she wondered aloud, astonished. “What does this mean? I’m just a cast-off woman.”
Deng Zhi, while cataloging the gifts, wore a peculiar expression. “Madam, this seems unusual. Why would the king send gifts meant for a woman?”
There were even pairs of mandarin ducks among the items.
[Maybe he wants to be my father?] Lu Chao Chao thought to herself. Madam Xu was terrified. Could the king want to marry her? She had three sons and a daughter—could this be true?
Lu Chao Chao, playing with ants, thought it was entirely possible. Every time she visited the palace, the king would ask if he could be her father. She was tired of it.
“Mother, if you wish to remarry, Yan Shu will support you. Don’t worry about us. Everyone deserves happiness,” Lu Yan Shu said firmly from the doorway. “Besides, Mother, you were deceived for eighteen years. If he didn’t cherish you, someone else will.”
Madam Xu laughed. “With you all, why would I remarry? Don’t overthink it. You need to rest; we’re visiting a master tomorrow.”
Lu Yan Shu nodded softly.
Early the next morning, Madam Xu personally took Lu Yan Shu and Lu Chao Chao to visit the Prime Minister’s residence. Yuan, the Prime Minister, was a renowned scholar with four disciples, three of whom were top scholars in their respective years. The fourth, unacknowledged by Yuan, was now the head of Tianhong Academy. Many sought to study under him.
As they approached the Yuan residence, Madam Xu saw a familiar face at the gate. It was truly a small world. Her expression soured, and a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes. Lu Yuan Ze was there with Lu Jing Huai, waiting at the door. He frowned deeply upon seeing her.
“Shi Yun, I heard you had a proposal just three days after your divorce?” Lu Yuan Ze sneered. “You’ll never find a better man than me.” He glanced at Lu Yan Shu and furrowed his brow.
“You mean, a worse, more shameless man?” Deng Zhi spat. “Young Master, Little Miss, come down.” Deng Zhi helped Lu Yan Shu out of the carriage.
Lu Yuan Ze seethed. “What? You’re here to seek a master too?” He looked from his eldest son to Lu Jing Huai. “Yan Shu, you’re paralyzed and can’t take the royal exams. The Prime Minister is a proud man; he’ll never take you as a disciple. Go home and save yourself the humiliation.”
He didn’t consider his son a threat. Yan Shu was paralyzed and hadn’t studied in ten years. How could he compare to Jing Huai’s esteemed reputation? Lu Yuan Ze smirked, pulling out his calling card and knocking on the Yuan residence’s door. The doorman peered out. “I am Marquis Yuan Ze, here with my son to visit the Prime Minister. Here is my calling card,” Lu Yuan Ze said, handing it over.
The doorman glanced at the card. “The Prime Minister isn’t home today. Come back tomorrow.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s face fell. “My son is Lu Jing Huai, a well-known talent in the capital. He admires the Prime Minister and seeks his guidance,” he insisted, confident that Jing Huai’s abilities would secure him a spot as the Prime Minister’s final disciple.
The doorman, growing impatient, retorted, “Marquis, stop making things difficult. The Prime Minister isn’t home. Even if the king himself came, the Prime Minister still wouldn’t be home.”
Lu Yuan Ze, frustrated, tried to argue, but Lu Jing Huai shook his head, signaling him to stop. Reluctantly, Lu Yuan Ze stepped back. “You can’t even get in; how could you?” he sneered at Madam Xu, who handed over her calling card.
“My son, Lu Yan Shu, seeks the Prime Minister’s guidance. Please convey our request,” she said politely.
The doorman, softened by her demeanor, replied, “Madam, the Prime Minister truly isn’t home. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow?”
Lu Yuan Ze laughed mockingly, thinking Madam Xu was delusional.
Just then, Lu Chao Chao tugged at the doorman’s pants, clumsily pulling out a crescent-shaped jade pendant. It had taken her great effort to find it that morning. “Hewe, for you,” she said, standing on tiptoe to hand it to him.
“You can’t bwide me,” he started, then looked closely at the pendant and paled. His casual demeanor shifted to nervousness as he cradled the jade. “A noble person!” he exclaimed, dropping to his knees. Madam Xu was stunned.
“Please wait, don’t leave. I’ll inform the Prime Minister and open the main gate!” The doorman returned the pendant to Lu Chao Chao and ran off, nearly tripping. This was the Yuan family heirloom, passed down through generations. Recently, the young master had been kidnapped and rescued, and the pendant had been given to his savior.
The doorman ran swiftly, and soon the sound of hurried footsteps came from inside. “A noble guest has arrived; open the main gate,” a commanding voice called.
With a creak, the heavy gate slowly opened. Madam Xu peered inside, seeing a crowd. She stepped back in shock. At the forefront stood an elderly woman, dignified and meticulously dressed, with the entire household behind her. Beside her was a young boy, just a few years old.
Lu Yuan Ze couldn’t get the door to open. Madam Xu couldn’t either. But for Lu Chao Chao, the entire household came to welcome her.
“You can’t bwide me,” he started
Was he making fun of her lol
Lol i think so